Screen-cleaning device for paper-making machines



y 9, 1929- c. H. DUPUIS SCREEN CLEANING DEVICE FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Fifi-s C. H. DUPUIS July 9, 1929.

SCREEN CLEANING DEVICE FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 21, 1928 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES CONRADE HECTOR DUPUIS, 0F RIVERIBENI), QUEBEC, CANADA.

SCREEN-CLEANING DEVICE FOR PAPER- MAKING MACHINES.

Application filed February 21, 1928, Serial No. 255,998, and in Canada January 19, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic wire cleaning devices for paper making machines, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this charactor for the purpose of cleaning the wire screen which is operated at the wet end of a paper making machine without interfering with the operation of the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will concentrate a pressure of a suitable fluid on the screen in such a manner that all foreign matter, such as pitch and the like, is removed therefrom.

A still further object is to provide a device which will move transversely of the machine and automatically reverse its direction of movement so that during operation the device will cover the entire area of the wire screen previously mentioned.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an automatic wire screen cleaning device, which may be readily adjusted to varying conditions, which are caused through the adjustment of the wire screen itself or by the renewal thereof.

Other objects will become apparent as the descriptive details of the invention are learned, which in the main consists essentially of a pair of travelling members supported independently, but operable synchronously, and each provided with flexible hose means adapted to conduct the medium necessary to perform the functions relating to the cleansing of the wire screen.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved device illustrated in an operative position at the wet end of a paper making machine.

. Figure 2 isa fragmentary plan view illus trating the vacuummember in operative position.

Figure 3 is a plan view indicating the automatically reversing driving mechanism.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 3.

. Figure 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the adjustable supporting means for the travelling members.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on theline 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the travelling members through which fluid is directed to the wire screen.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through one of the jets.

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken through a portion of the member illustrated in Figure 7.

Reference now being made to the drawing, in which my improved device is illustrated, A designates a wire screen positioned at the wet end of a paper making machine. B indicates the head box, C the brass roll, D and E the travelling fluid dispensing and suction members respectively, andthe character F indicates the wire screen tightener.

In the operation of a paper making machine, the pulp is delivered from the head box to the endless wire screen, where in its travel a portion of the water is removed therefrom by suction boxes, and the partially formed paper is then carried to the drier rolls and so .on through the machine until finally the finished product is delivered therefrom ready for commercial use.

During the first part of the paper making process, paper is formed in its first stage on the wire screen above referred to, and it frequently occurs owing to inadequacy of the cooking process, that a considerable amount of pitch such as is found in jack pine etc, is not removed during the cooking process, and is consequently discharged with the pulp onto the screen, and due to its inherent qualities, becomes embedded therein, so that in a very short period of time, the screen mesh becomes clogged, the result of which is very obvious.

In my improved device, I propose to remove or eliminate as far as possible the pitch, and other foreign matter from the wire screen without interferin with the operation of the paper making mac inc, and in so doing subject the entire surface of the wire screen to a cleansing process, which is accomplished by the mechanism hereinafter referred to in detail.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 1, the member D is positioned above the screen A and adjacent thereto, and the member E is positioned directly opposite, and'underneath the screen. Each of the members referred to are operated through the operation of the paper making machine by mechanism hereinafter described, which causes these members to travel back and forth transversely of the machine, but not actually in contact with the screen A.

To effect this operation, the members D and E are pivotally connected as at 10 and 11 to the carriages 12, which are fixed on grooved rollers 13 and 14 adapted to travel on pairs or sets of tracks 15 and 16 respectively.

From time to time owing to the necessity of tightening the wire screen or the renewal thereof, it is necessary to adjust the relationship of the members D and E with respect to the screen. Each pair of tracks is therefore rigidly connected as at 17 and'18 to the vertically adjustable fittings or sleeves 19 and 20.

In the present invention I illustrate the members 19 and 20 as being adjustably supported on the screw threaded rods 21 and 22 mounted in a suitable base or stand 23, while the rods 24 and 25 act as guides during the movement of the members 19 and 20. In addition to the foregoing, it will be seen by reverting to Figure 5 that the rods 21 and 22 are provided with a suitable projecting head 26 by which means the rods may be 0 erated.

From what has already been stated: it will be observed that the adjustment of the members D and E to meet a changed condition can be readily effected in a simple and etficient manner.

The member D, previously referred to, is designed during operation to direct fluid,

such as steam or the like, under pressure against the surface of the screen A and for ing pipe 36 to a source this purpose is provided with a lurality of nozzles or jets 27, the su' ply of fi uid is communicated to this mem r by means of a flexible hose 28 which is connected in any convenient manner to a suitable source of supply and is carried for operative purposes in the channel member 29.

The member E, also previously referred to and in which a suction is created, during its operation, comprises a hollow member the upper face of which is provided with a plurality of orifices 30 adapted to cover the entire face of the member and preferably tapered as indicated at 31. The curved lips 32 are designed to prevent any possible injury to the screen A.

In addition to the foregoing, the member E like the member D is provided with a flexible hose 33 which is connected in any convenient manner to a vacuum creating device and supported for purposes of operation in a channel member 34.

In the event that it is desirable to loosen pitch or other foreign mater adhering to the screen prior to its subjection to a fluid cleansmg pressure, I provide an auxiliary device in the form of a spray nozzle 35 through which a spray of asuitable solvent, such as kerosene or the like, is directed to the wire screen and which is connected by means of the conductof sn 1 which would preferably be under pressui y During the operation of the a er makin machinethe members D and E al e designed to move continuously back and forth transversely of the screen so that during the operation of the machine the entire screen is subjected to a cleaning process.

The means which I have illustrated to effect this operation comprise threaded shafts or rods 37, 38, 39 and 40 supported by arms 41 and 42 which are in turn mounted on the rails 15 and 16. The threaded shafts are adapted to extend through the members D and E and are rotated only during the operation of the paper making machine.

The mechanism for the operation of the shafts comprises the gear 43 mounted on the brass rodshaft meshing with the gear 44 on the shaft 45. The shaft 45 has also fixedly mounted thereon the pulleys 46 and 47 which are belt connected by means of a twisted belt 48 and a straight belt 49 to the pulleys 50, 51 and 52 on the shaft 39. It will be noted here that the pulley 51 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 39 while the pulleys 50 and 52 are merely idlers.

As indicated, particularly in Figure 3, I employ a belt shifter 53 to cause the reversal in movement of the traveling members D and E. This shifter is connected to the belts 48 and 49 in the usual way and is rovided with projecting fingers 54 and 55, w ich are alternately engaged by the member E during the operation of this member. It will be obvious then that as the member E reaches its extreme movement in one direction, it engages one of these fingers which shift the belts and reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft 39 and thus the movement of the members D and E back and forth transversely of the wire screen is continued during the operation of the paper making machine.

During the operation of the screen cleaning device, the members D and E move back and forth in synchronism, the means effecting this comprises the sprocket 56, chain 57 and sprocket 58 which operate the threaded rods or shafts 39 and 40, while the. threaded shafts 37 and 38 are operated by the sprockets 59 and 60 connected by chains '61 and 62 to the sprockets 63 and 64.

In operation and after the paper making machine has been started, a suitable fiuid is directed to the member D under pressure while a vacuum is created in the member E at the same time a suitable solvent under pressure is directed to the nozzle 35 through which it is sprayed on the screen A, the effect of the spraying causing any forei n matter to looson or disintegrate, prior to t at portion of the screen reaching the members D and E. Then as the screen continues its travel 1t comes toe position between these members and is sub jected to a fluid under pressure, such as steam or the like, from the nozzles 27 and a'vacuum which has been created in the member E the resultof this causes the screen A to be thoroughly cleaned. During the aforementioned operation, the drive mechanism,previously referred to, effects the movement of both members continuously back and forth transversely of the screen so that its'entire area is subjected to a cleansing bath without interrupting the operation of the paper making machine.

As many changes could be'made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of the claims constructed, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intendedithat all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the character described and in combination with the Web or screen, a fluid distributing member and a suction mem.

her, a verticallv arranged guideway, pairs of tracks slidably mounted in spaced relationship to one another on said uideway, a screw rod co-acting with the guideway and connecting the tracks, supporting carriages for the fluid distribut-ingmember and the vacuum members adapted for travel on said tracks, and mechanism co-acting with the.

screen operating mechanism for moving the carriages backwardly and forwardly relative to the screen. v

2. In a screen cleaner of the character described a pair of tracks slidably supported on each side of the screen, threaded rods for said tracks, and carriages adapted for travel backwardly and forwardly on the tracks. l In1 witness whereof I have hereunto set my ian .CONRADE HECTOR DUPUIS. 

